Abstract

eutectic system is investigated by transmission electron microscopy(TEM) and high angle annular dark field scanning TEM (STEM). The lamellar structure allows studying tunneling and proximity effects between spin-triplet superconductor and metamagnetic normal metal. Our analyses reveal two typologies of interfaces within the eutectic: interfaces parallel to the growth direction are sharp and defect-free whereas interfaces perpendicular to the growth direction appear wavy and decorated with Ru precipitates. These results indicate that interfaces parallel to the growth direction are the best candidates for natural junctions to study the unusual superconductivity of .

Received 13 May 2009Accepted 10 September 2009Published online 08 October 2009

Acknowledgments:

The SSF program OXIDE, the VR program, the Swedish National Graduate School of Material Science, the Knut, and Alice Wallenberg Foundation are gratefully acknowledged for their financial support. R. Ciancio acknowledges the Swedish Institute, the Blanceflor Boncompagni-Lodovisi Foundation, the “Angelo della Riccia” Foundation, and the ESF activity Thin Films for Novel Oxide Devices (THIOX) for partially supporting her research.